All-inclusive fun at Woodloch Pines: The Best Poconos Family Resort

One thing this pandemic has driven home for us is to cherish the time we have together with our loved ones. We discovered a truly special place that prides itself on doing exactly that- bringing families together to create lifelong memories. We had a fun-filled weekend at Woodloch Pines Resort, one of the best Poconos family resorts. Woodloch Resort brings friends and families together to connect, try new activities, and relish each other’s company in an atmosphere that feels like home. The Kiesendahl family has owned and operated this all-inclusive Poconos resort for 63 years. They take pride in making their guests feel like part of their family, which is why so many guests come back year after year, season after season.

Woodloch Pines is an all-inclusive family resort that offers over 30 kid-friendly activities in a serene setting on Lake Teedyuskung. Woodloch shines with genuine hospitality, delicious home-cooked meals by the fire, and cozy lakeside accommodation. Woodloch is a unique place where good old-fashioned family values reign, laughter fills the air, and lasting memories are created.

If you’ve seen Dirty Dancing, Woodloch reminds us of the resort in that movie. With all-inclusive activities like go-carts, bumper cars, ice skating, cupcake decorating, arts and crafts, archery, an indoor water park and so much more you’ll never get bored at this family-friendly resort. It’s easy to understand why Woodloch was voted not only the best of the Poconos resorts but also the best family resort in the U.S. We loved it so much that we went back for Halloween and brought along my mom to join in on the fun.

Covid-19 protocols at the best Poconos family resort

Woodloch Pines Resort implemented Covid-19 protocols to keep guests safe during the pandemic. Masks are no longer required but are recommended, according to local regulations.

The resort has installed indoor air purifiers and has heightened cleaning in high-touch areas. Guests have the option to receive their meals as take-out or can have full meals catered to their vacation rental. The resort has reduced capacity and requires guests to sign up for many activities in advance.

Woodloch Pines Activities & Amenities

We were impressed by the variety of Woodloch Resort activities that cater to families with kids of all ages. We noticed a lot of multi-generational families enjoying vacations together, proving that Woodloch has something for every age to enjoy. We were so excited to bring Grandma along the second time. The kids couldn’t wait to do the bumper cars with her! We all had a blast and lots of laughs all weekend long.

We appreciated how the activities are included with your stay, except for a few that require an additional fee like the escape room, bowling, and shooting range. The activities at Woodloch Pines reminded us of what you’d find at a summer camp and a carnival, with everything from archery to go-carts.

The schedule of activities changes daily at Woodloch, while resort amenities are offered every day. Resort amenities that are available every day include viper go-carts, junior go-carts, bumper cars, kiddie cars, archery range, climbing wall (open seasonally), synthetic ice-skating rink, indoor forest playground, arts and crafts room, kids club, indoor pool and water park, mini golf, indoor gym, arcade, and multiple playgrounds.

There’s a new playground next to the mini golf course that has the tallest slides we’ve ever seen. The kids had a blast playing there with their new friends. During our visit on the first weekend of spring, the snow tubing was still open since Woodloch creates their own snow.

The viper go-carts were a blast and I think all the parents had even more fun than the kids. Bertaut is super competitive and was lapping the other cars and cracking up each time he passed me. Kids must be 58” or taller to drive the go-carts, but can ride with their parents. The junior go-carts require kids to be 48”-58” to drive, so our kids were just the right size and went about 10 times during our weekend stay. They loved being able to drive their own car.

The complimentary #GoKart experience at @Woodloch is one experience both adults and kids will enjoy. Besides the bumper cars this was one of our favorite activities while at the resort.#MyWoodlochStory #WorldTravelAdventurers pic.twitter.com/cKmVQEq8bu

— World Travel Adventurers (@ProTravelHacker) March 25, 2021

In the summer there are additional resort amenities including boating on the lake, bumper boats, an outdoor pool, water skiing, and more! We kept hearing from other guests that we should return in the summer when we can go boating on the lake. The lake was mostly frozen during our visit, but we will definitely return in warmer weather.

Woodloch activities offered during our March stay included a cupcake decorating contest, trapshoot contest, trivia contest, bowling contest, curling contest, family feud, bingo, painting, bean bag toss contest, scavenger hunt, bocce board contest, 21 buckets contest, slam ball contest, petting zoo, pony rides, and so many more!

During our return visit over Halloween weekend, there were dozens of fun fall activities and Halloween-themed events. We enjoyed pumpkin painting, trick or treating in our Halloween costumes, Halloween Olympics, and a fantastic Haunted Trail and wagon ride. We also got to try the bumper boats which were not available during our previous  visit.

We really got into the Halloween Olympics and loved having to work together to compete against the other families. Our competitive nature came out and we had so much fun strategizing on how to win each game. The activities promote bonding and togetherness, which is why we think Woodloch was voted #1 of the best family resorts in the U.S. Check out the fun we had during our Halloween visit in our Instagram reel below! Woodloch certainly knows how to celebrate the holidays!

 

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A post shared by Family Luxury Travel (@worldtraveladventurers)

Woodloch has their own app that shows the daily schedule and allows you to schedule activities easily from the app. They also provide a printed out schedule of daily activities and amenities and you can schedule from the activity desk or over the phone.

Woodloch Pines also offers a nightly show in the auditorium, with 2 show times at 7pm or 8:45pm. We went to the show the first night, which was a talented magician that amazed us. We skipped the show on our second night, which was a song and dance show about music through the decades. The kids wanted to go to the indoor pool and water park with their new friends. We had no complaints as we soaked in the hot tub next to the indoor pool.

Woodloch Resort Dining

Woodloch offers guests the option to have an all-inclusive stay with 3 meals per day, 2 meals per day, or to opt out of the meal plan. The “all-inclusive” plan does not include drinks/snacks in between meals or alcohol. However, there is complimentary tea, coffee, and water available in the lobby all day.

We were on the 3 meal plan and highly recommend it because the food and service in the dining room were outstanding. The Kiesendahl family greets guests during every meal at Woodloch Pines Main Dining Room. We felt like guests in their home and appreciated how they checked on us to make sure we were having a great stay. When we returned for our second visit, Mr. Kiesendahl came up and gave us big hugs. We could see how genuinely happy he was to welcome us back and were honored that he remembered us.

The main dining room at Woodloch Pines is warm and inviting. Wood-burning fires at the entrance and at both ends of the large dining room give it a cozy ambience that feels like home. In fact, Mr. John Kiesendahl showed us the room that was the original living room of Woodloch Pines when he was a child and his parents bought the resort. He shared how they lived in the attic while guests slept in the 6 guest rooms. He had to collect water from the stream for guests because they didn’t have running water back then.

We loved hearing the history of this special place that is filled with nostalgia from six decades of serving families. You can’t miss him with his cartoon-character embroidered pants, which instantly endeared him to our children. His son Patrick also can’t be missed in the dining room, who was decked out in a Superman suit and socks with a cape. The Kiesendahl family clearly have a passion for what they do and it is felt when staying at Woodloch.

And the @Woodloch best dressed host award 🥇 goes to … Patrick ! Even the socks have capes 🤩#WorldTravelAdventurers #MyWoodlochStory #Superhost pic.twitter.com/136DNloZN7

— World Travel Adventurers (@ProTravelHacker) March 27, 2021

Guests are seated at the same table for every meal in the Woodloch dining room. We had the same servers throughout our stay, which meant they took really good care of us. The food is served family style and extremely fast, which we appreciated with kids who get impatient and hangry. The food for the dining plan was bountiful and delicious, and you could ask for extras of anything you wanted. To be honest, we weren’t expecting such gourmet meals. Meals included homemade bread, salad, soup, appetizers, entrees, and dessert.

My mom was so excited to come with us the second visit because she remembered us talking about how good the food was from our first visit. She absolutely loved it! It was so nice to sit down together for a family meal and talk about all the fun things we’d do next.

The food was so plentiful and tasty that we overindulged every time. I normally don’t eat bread with my meals but the fresh baked homemade bread was worth every calorie. The salads were different for each meal, and the one we had the first night was so good that we asked if we could get it again the next day. Even though it wasn’t on the menu, the kitchen whipped one up for us. It tasted just like the Fuji apple salad at Panera.

We appreciated how there were healthy options like salad with grilled seafood, kid-friendly favorites like mac and cheese and chicken fingers, and indulgent options for those not worried about calories like prime rib with mashed potatoes. We always splurged on dessert because the offerings were too irrisistible to pass up, like hot apple crisp, fudge brownies a la mode, mud pie, and ice cream sundaes. The kids asked for ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, whipped cream, and lots of cherries. They were over the moon when they received 6 cherries on their ice cream sundaes. They’ve been spoiled for life. 😂

It’s important to note that the main dining room serves meals during a specific time frame. Breakfast is served from 8:30-9:30am, lunch is from 12:30-1:30pm, and dinner is from 5:45-7:00pm. As long as you arrive within that time frame, you will be served. We ate so heartily at every meal that sometimes we weren’t hungry yet by the time the next meal rolled around. We ate anyway since we didn’t want to be miss out on the delicious food. Guests who don’t eat as much may want to opt for the 2 meal plan.

Additional Woodloch Restaurants

For those who opt out of the traditional meal plan, there are several Woodloch restaurants available to purchase meals. The Overlook and The Grille Room at Woodloch Springs offer American fare on an a la carte menu. North Lodge Bar offers quick dining options and Gigi’s Coffee House has smoothies and limited food options. There’s also Woodloch’s Deli at The Inn with sandwiches and pizza, or you can order pizza delivery through the Woodloch app.

It’s also possible to rent a home or villa at Woodloch with a kitchen and cook your own meals. However, after experiencing the meal plan we think you would be missing out on part of the quintessential Woodloch experience if you skip meals in the main dining room. You really feel like part of the family when dining there every meal, hearing announcements like birthday and anniversary celebrations.

Woodloch Pines Accommodations

Although we barely spent any time in our actual suite at Woodloch since we were so busy enjoying the activities, we appreciated the spacious set-up ideal for families. We stayed in a Springbrook Suite our first visit which had a bedroom with 2 Queen beds, a living room with a pull-out sleeper sofa, 2 full bathrooms, a large walk-in closet, and a balcony overlooking Lake Teedyuskung. Our suite also had a mini fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. Having a second bathroom came in really handy.

On our second visit with Mom, we stayed in a Mountain Laurel Country Suite. This spacious suite had 2 bedrooms with 2 Queen beds each, 2 sleeper sofas, living room, kitchen, and 2 patios. Our suite was located in the same building as the indoor pool and water park. It was a short walk to the main building where we had our meals and to the various locations for activities.

There are several accommodation options at Woodloch, ranging from standard motel-style units to the 2-bedroom suites that sleep 12 people. Guests can also rent entire homes with 2-5 bedrooms and full kitchens. It would be so much fun to rent a home with a group of friends and family at Woodloch. We met guests who have been coming to Woodloch every year with their extended family and friends for decades. It certainly seems like the perfect place for an annual family reunion. My mom definitely wants to go back with us again, and we would love to bring more family along too!

The Lodge at Woodloch Spa

Woodloch’s sister property, the Lodge at Woodloch, is just 2 miles away and home to the award-winning spa at Woodloch. The Woodloch spa resort is for adults only and focuses on wellness. We went there for a romantic couples getaway and left so relaxed. It’s possible to hire a babysitter at the resort, or leave the kids with grandma for the afternoon,  to escape for a couples massage and soak in the hot tubs at the Woodloch Lodge spa.

Woodloch Springs Golf Course & Sports Complex

For any golf fanatics, the Country Club at Woodloch Springs is also a short drive from Woodloch Resort. Woodloch Springs has an award-winning championship golf course that was recognized as one of the finest courses in America by GOLF Magazine. They provide golf lessons as well.

There’s also a Woodloch Springs Sports Complex available to resort guests. It includes a fitness center, group classes, locker rooms, steam rooms, an Olympic-sized indoor pool, an indoor hot tub, and a seasonal outdoor pool. We didn’t have time to check out the sports complex but you can learn more here.

Have you been to Woodloch Resort in the Poconos?

Compared to the plethora of Pocono resorts, family-owned Woodloch stands out for feeling like a home away from home. Have you been to this all-inclusive Poconos resort that was voted #1 of the best resorts in U.S. for families? Please let us know in the comments and if there are any must-do activities for our next Pocono family getaway.

Disclosure:  Woodloch Pines Resort provided us with a complimentary stay, but all opinions are our own.

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